Background and Aim: Meningitis is an inflammatory disease of the leptomeninges, the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and is defined by an abnormal number of white blood cells in the cerebrospinal fluid. Present study was performed with an aim to compare Standard Laboratory Test with Commercially Available Assay (Xcyton) for Diagnosis of Meningitis. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study of 101 patients admitted to Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Unit(MICU) at a tertiary care teaching hospital between January 2011 to December 2013 were included this study. Patients with suspected neuroinfection based on the history and clinical examination were subjected to lumbar puncture for CSF analysis after Computed tomography (CT scan) of brain. CSF was also collected in EDTA vacutainer (for XCyton) and extra sample was reserved for any further analysis. Results: Xcyton when compared to standard laboratory test had sensitivity and specificity of 76% and 71% while the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV) was 30% and 95%. Sensitivity and specificity was 20% and 50% when Xcyton was compared with diagnosis based on clinical and radiological criteria. Cryptococcal  meningitis had 50% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV and 98% NPV when XCyton and standard laboratory was compare. Conclusion: Standard laboratory tests may miss many cases of neuroinfection. Also Xcyton assessment alone may not be sufficient in evaluation of patients with suspected neuroinfection.

Keywords: Meningitis, Syndrome Evaluation System, XCyton.